Sir Cowasji Jehangir (2nd Bart)

Now remembered in Bombay mainly through his donation for the
Institute of
Science, during his life, Sir Cowasji Jehangir was a prominent
leader of the Parsi
community. He campaigned for a prominent role for the community inside
independent India.

He had become a member of the "Western India National Liberation
Federation", at its founding in 1919, and was elected its president
in 1936 and 1937. He was also active in the reactionary "Parsee
Central Committee", which was critical of
Congress Parsis like
Dadabhai Naoroji and
Pherozeshah Mehta.

At the second "Round Table Conference" in London during 1930-32,
where the framework for the political and constitutional future of India was
laid down, he was one of the three political "liberals" to represent
the Parsi community. To the Minorities Committee and the Franchise
Committee he advocated a graded franchise based on the standard of
education which would have given the Parsis an immense over-representation
in future elections. Such a scheme was never taken seriously by any other
party in the discussions.

After 1939, when it was apparent that independence was to come in a short
while, a large number of Parsis became active in the WINLF,
whose meetings were often held at his home. As a last ditch effort, on the
eve of independence in 1945, he pleaded to the Viceroy in a telegram not to
forget the claims of the Parsis. This appeal, made as the president of the
"Parsee Central Association" was nullified by a telegram from a
group of Parsis calling themselves the "Freedom Group" which
rejected any special previlege for the Parsis.